Chapter 31 "Searching"

Day 93; Group B

The group awoke early, getting moving quickly. If they stayed there much longer the herd could get them. Who knows what could possibly happen in that situation? Sure, they may be fine, but there's no use in risking it.

"Some of them might be hiding out in that town we tried dropping Abi-Maria off in," Seth suggested.

"You mean Bunker?" Selenis clarified.

"Yeah."

They all agreed that this was a good idea, and loaded up to get off the path and head into Bunker. They drove down the roads of the small town, keeping an eye out for an RV, people on foot, or any signs of movement that weren't walkers. The group had already looted all of the houses of all things, including curtains and most fabrics, so they're sure they would have noticed if some houses were being lived in or used as refuge, and there were no unfamiliar vehicles around, nor could they tell if any of the vehicles around had disappeared. It seemed to be untouched, so they found a house on the outskirt of town to rest in for the night while they planned out their next course of action.

"We could find another place," Seth said. "A bigger, better place."

"With fences," Daniel added.

"Or we could do like my group did," Selenis suggested. "Before we met you all."

"What's that?" Daniel asked, not very familiar with everyone's stories just yet.

"Keep moving," the only woman in the group stated. "Don't get stuck again like we did back there. That's why we got separated. If we were traveling, we'd all still be together."

"Yeah, as undead corpses," Shawn added. "Just because we would have seen them all together doesn't mean we all would have survived. You can't tell me you had less casualties on the road than in a stationary place."

Selenis shrugged. "Well…" she tried. "I guess you're right."

"I say we start looking for them," Shawn declared. "Everyone I have left in the world is out there, and I don't want to just leave them behind; to move on. That's not right, and I couldn't do it."

Robert nodded his head. "I agree."

Greyson remained silent, but nodded, appealing to the leader and the brunet with now quite long hair (Robert) sitting next to him.

"How about we vote?" Shawn suggested, and everyone rolled their eyes.

"We already know who wins," Seth groaned. "But I say, while we search, if we find a nice place like, I dunno, a mall — ooh! Or a prison. Something cool like that. I say we take note of it and come back to it when we inevitably give up." Robert and Shawn glared at Seth. "Come on! I'm just kidding, Jesus Christ."

"So, it's settled?" Selenis asked. "We're searching?"

They all nodded among themselves, and got going. The headed out towards the east, trying to flee the areas the herd could hit if it continues on its path. They arrived in a town called Centerville around thirty minutes later. Seth gritted his teeth at the name of the town. Yet another '-ville.'

They had been clearing out houses for hours, looking not only for the group, but for supplies and a place to sleep for the night. They had found a lot more food, some miraculously fresh bread that had been frozen, and even managed to kill an owl that was taking refuge in a house they entered.

They had chose between about four different houses, and they decided on a trailer that was on a dirt road, hidden by the forest, and only a block away from the highway.

They made a fire in the fenced back yard and had owl sandwiches.

There was very little space inside of the house, so they were forced to share beds.

Daniel and Seth shared a bed, which gave Daniel very awkward emotions. They both slept fully-clothed and at opposite ends of the bed.

Selenis and Shawn shared a bed, which was just as awkward. Shawn, however, felt comfortable enough to take his shirt off.

Greyson and Robert had the most awkward night of all. Greyson had gotten very comfortable with Robert over the past two days. He had opened up to him about how he misses everyone, and cared for them. They were now lying in the bed, facing away from one another, talking about their new agenda.

"I hope we don't get ourselves into more trouble than it's worth looking for our people," Greyson said.

"We won't," Robert replied. "Any trouble we get into, we can handle. If it's for our family," he emphasized, "then it's worth it."

Greyson turned to look at Robert. "I didn't mean it like that," he said apologetically.

"No, I know what you meant. You don't want us risking our lives for people who could likely be dead already."

Greyson frowned. Robert turned around, and they were facing one another. Things quickly became tense, and Robert reached out a hand, putting it on top of Greyson's, who flinched in response but did not remove his hand.

"Are you okay?" Robert asked Greyson.

Greyson pulled his hand out from Robert's and put it below his head. "Robert, please."

"Please what?"

"Just," Greyson began and turned back around.

Robert scooted closer. "Greyson, seriously, what's the matter? Why do you always open the door but then just kick me out when I reach the steps up?"

Greyson curled himself into a tight ball, knowing Robert was moving closer.

"You don't have to be shy, or uncomfortable, or scared." Robert put a hand on the other boy's shoulder. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Greyson sighed. He wasn't sure what he wanted in this moment, but he was scared. Not of Robert, but of this. Of his own emotions. Of what might happen if he lost Robert after putting all of his love and trust in him.

"If you don't trust me at all, then why are you still here?"

"I do trust you," Greyson said, his voice a high whimper. He felt embarrassed at the squeak he released. He must look like a fool.

Robert smiled slightly to himself at the way the freckled boy replied. "Then what's the problem?"

Greyson shut his eyelids hard, holding back a tear. "Because," he breathed, "I'm afraid of what might happen if I lose you."

The taller boy put an arm under Greyson and pulled him into a hug. "Why would you be afraid of that?"

The freckled one was now crying hard into Robert's chest, struggling to breathe. "Why wouldn't I be?" he sniffled. "We've already lost so many. Everyone we're looking for could be dead, and I just don't want to see someone I love — let alone someone that I could fall in love with — die."

Robert smiled. Greyson had finally opened up to him. He knew it wasn't the most appropriate thing to do by smiling, but he felt happy for the first time in a long time. "You can't worry about that," Robert calmed him. "If you're afraid to die, then what's the point in living?"

Greyson's crying continued. He knew that Robert was right, and that he should be letting Robert know that he was feeling better. But this was good. This was the first time he has gotten a chance to cry in an accepting, open environment. If he cried while bunked with Daniel, the older boy would yell at him. If he cried while bunked with one of the others, things would likely get very awkward. It wasn't awkward with Robert, though. For some reason, it was like they had a special bond. He had no idea what it was, but the freckled boy was thankful that it was there.

Robert began stroking Greyson's back, soothing him. Robert realized he knew very little about the boy. He didn't truly understand just why the boy was crying. Who he had lost, what he had done.

"So, Grey, uh…" Robert silenced himself momentarily, not meaning to call Greyson that. He had only ever referred to him as that in his head. He didn't seem to care, though, so Robert continued. "Can we, like, get to know each other? Like, really get to know each other?" Greyson looked up to him with tears in his eyes. The darker-haired boy really didn't like him for personality. It was all just about his appearance. He frowned, but appreciated that Robert was trying, and he nodded. "I mean, I know you think a lot. I know you like to write. Saw you and Patti writing little poems a few days after we moved in. I know you sing,"

"You know I sing?"

Robert smiled. Greyson looked almost shocked. "Well, when you say you're gonna go to the bathroom, I know that sometimes you sneak off to sing."

Greyson blushed and wiped away the remaining tears from his face. "How?"

"Well, y'know," Robert began, and tried to come up with a lie. How would Greyson take Robert following him out to the woods, or pressing himself against the door? It was only slightly because of how much he liked Greyson. The biggest reason was that he suspected Greyson to be suicidal or depressed.

"Am I just loud?" Greyson asked, breaking Robert's attempts at forming a lie. "Does anyone else know?

Robert pounced on the handout. "Kinda," he said. "Lyrik, Patricia, Selenis, and Beth know, but that's how it is with friends," Robert chuckled as Greyson's blush remained, his eyes growing wider. "Sorry. It's just, I liked your voice. So I told them I heard you singing, and they thought it was cute. So do I."

Greyson awkwardly looked away, breaking eye contact. "Is that all you know about me?"

"I know that it was you, Daniel, and uh...Amy, was it?"

"Amber," Greyson corrected, remembering his dear friend.

"Right, sorry. It was you three when Ryan and his people met you."

Greyson nodded. "That it?"

"I know that you and Amber were close. And that losing her affected you a lot. You hate peanut brittle, and so do I. Your favorite artist was Lady Gaga, and she was mine, as well. You love..."

Greyson stared off at the wall, his eyes glazing over as Robert listed the things he knew. The freckled boy acknowledged that Robert knew more about him than he expected, but he couldn't take his mind off of Amber. She was his best friend, and though she wasn't strong, or smart, or brave, he missed her more than anything. She was no use in this world, but in the old one she was everything to him. She was the funniest person he knew. When he came out to his parents on his eighteenth birthday, it was her who comforted him, reminding him that people still loved and cared for him. She gave him a place to stay when he lost his job and ran out of money.

"So what do you know about me?" Robert asked, finally pulling Greyson away from his thoughts.

"Um," he began, thinking. "Your birthday is in October, so you'll be nineteen in the next couple of months."

"If the calendar's right," Robert smiled. "Wait, when's your birthday?"

"Middle of August," Greyson smiled weakly.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait," Robert said as he raised his hand in front of the other boy, his eyes wide. "Not only did we pass your birthday without you telling us, but you're older than me?"

Greyson's smile was now genuine. "Well, y'know," Greyson said, imitating Robert's words from earlier, highlighting that they both know something the other didn't.

Robert smiled at him and pulled him closer into a hug. "That it?" Robert imitated Greyson's prodding.

"You said you know I sing," Greyson smiled deviously as Robert nodded. "Well, I hear you talking to yourself sometimes."

The embarrassment Greyson had felt was now coursing through Robert. He pursed his lips as he stared at the younger boy. "Hell," he said. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised." Greyson shrugged in return. "You haven't, uh, heard anything, have you?"

Greyson's smile became devious once more. "Maybe."

Robert laughed. "Well, whatever you heard, I'm sorry you had to listen in on that...craziness."

Greyson nodded. "Well," he said, "I did hear one thing. About how you also lost your best friends. I think you said their names were Lily and LaRissa. Both really early on."

"Too early," Robert frowned. If one of them were here right now, things would be so much easier for him. He wouldn't be as much of a wreck. Things would feel more familiar. He would have a close, friendly, trustable voice beside him, helping him make his decisions in this new world, and keeping him sane. Now, everything was so surreal. This all felt like a dream, or like a big joke. He didn't know if anything even was real, but he had to try. Reality or not, he's not messing up his life by giving up.

"You love the rain. The way it hits tin roofs. You love coffee. Puppies, but not dogs. Cats in all ages. Pokémon. Television. Internet." Greyson was reminded of something he had been told about Robert and the internet, and it made him think of a conversation that had began about Robert because of that. "And, according to Lyrik, you're versatile."

"Woah, what? Do you even know what that means?"

Greyson smiled. "That you like to give and receive."

Robert shrugged. He couldn't, and wouldn't, deny it. "That's true… Did Lyrik teach you that word, or..?"

"No," Greyson said. "I knew. She just said 'vers.'"

"So, you are gay?"

"Well, yeah. I guess."

"Why didn't you tell me? You told me you weren't. I thought I was joking around with a straight guy. I mean, the way you acted sometimes, I was pretty sure you were at least bi, but like. I didn't know I had an actual chance with you."

"Well, it looks like you do." Greyson grinned and raised his head, their lips meeting, having their first kiss. It was light, and there was no tongue, but it lasted for a few moments, and they both pulled away feeling overwhelmed with feelings that seemed alien now.

They remained in one another's arms, and both nearly fell asleep.

On the verge of passing out, Robert beckoned to the other boy, both of their eyes closed as they were cuddled within one another.

"So, are we…?"

"I've realized life's too short, Robert. I'm willing to take the risk."

"Yes?"

"Yes."

Really big whoops! I know I'm late. I said I would publish on the 15th, but it was quite busy and before I remembered I had to publish this, I was in bed nearly asleep! Then, I pretty much just forgot about publishing it on this site. So here we go, as promised, the return of ZPS-14!